Fields

Margaret L. “Peggy” Fields was “a beautiful woman” who’s being remembered for her lifetime commitment to community service by several longtime friends.

Fields, 97, died Monday and was a longtime volunteer at Fort Roberdeau, Blair County Historical Society and the Quaint Corner Children’s Museum — having served on the board of directors for all three organizations.

“She just put her whole life to community service,” said Lucinda Corle, a friend of 27 years who learned how to make history come alive from Fields.

Although Fort Roberdeau did not have formal titles for its volunteers, Fields was an accomplished seamstress and essentially acted as the fort’s clothing coordinator, according to Director Glenn Nelson.

Fields joined the fort in 1978 and helped fit volunteers to their Revolutionary War clothing and made repairs when necessary, Nelson said.

Much of that responsibility has since been passed from Fields to Corle, Nelson said, noting Fields was energetic and cherished doing school tours with kids who visited the fort.

According to Nelson, Fields considered the fort’s volunteers and regular visitors as her “second family.”

“Her heart really was at Fort Roberdeau,” Nelson said.

Nellie Wright, who has volunteered alongside Fields for the fort’s Revolutionary War Days since 1981, said Fields acted as her surrogate mother after her parents passed away.

Wright knew Fields for many years prior, dating back to their time together at the Blair County Historical Society.

“She was extremely interested in local history,” Wright said of Fields, noting Fields was a self-taught archaeologist who knew more about archeology than most.

Van Scoyoc later served as the curator of Baker Mansion from 1992-2006. He said Fields was still an active volunteer when he left.

“She was very dedicated,” Van Scoyoc said. “She worked very hard and really gave a lot of herself to the various organizations she volunteered for.”

Fields was also heavily involved with the Quaint Corner Children’s Museum for almost the entirety of the life of the museum, which will celebrate its 40-year anniversary this year, said Coreena Detrich, the museum’s director.

“Apart from just being a board member, she also would just volunteer her time and come in to do generous activities with our visitors,” Detrich said, adding Fields enjoyed sewing projects that people would have done in Victorian or colonial times.

“She used to do fashion shows of different historic-era clothing, so she had a lot of experience with that,” Detrich said.

As a board member, Fields worked more behind the scenes to help the museum continue on, Detrich said.

“But she would always show up. Despite her age and being the oldest board member, she would be there to help when we had events,” Detrich said. “She cared about the causes that she helped and you could count on her.”

A private burial will be held at the convenience of Fields’ family at Alto-Reste Park. Arrangements are by Mauk & Yates Funeral Home Inc., Altoona.

Mirror Staff Writer Matt Churella is at 814-946-7520.